12 JULY 2010 - FRANCE 24 LAUNCHES ITS FRENCH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES ON BASTILLE DAY

FRANCE 24 will link up with the American platform DISH Network and its 15 million subscribers across the United States on July 14th.

The deal with one of the leading American pay TV providers aims to offer French speaking audiences and Francophiles a genuine alternative to other international news stations.
The channel will be available 24/7 to subscribers of the French bouquet on Channel 660.

FRANCE 24 was launched in 2006 and currently broadcasts in French, English and Arabic throughout 160 countries reaching 125 millions TV households. It offers a unique blend of international news coverage combining French appeal and an unbiased opinion on world events.

Since its launch, FRANCE 24 has been available in English to select TV markets in the United States. It has strengthened its position across the country thanks to the Galaxy 23 satellite which allows access to most cable TV providers.

“We believe there is a growing interest in the United States for news contents coming from a variety of sources and origins. 1/3 of our website‘s users already live in the United States. We were the first French TV on iPad and we got fabulous ratings from American bloggers. We are now happy to launch our French signal on DISH World, especially on such a symbolic date as Bastille Day! “, said Christine Ockrent, CEO of FRANCE 24.

FRANCE 24 is available in the United States:

• On the Galaxy 23 satellite all over the US (free to non subscribers) ;
• On live via MHz Networks 7 in Washington D.C. to over 2 million subscribers. MHz is repeated on the digital networks of Comcast Channel 277, Cox Channel 476, RCN Channel 36, Verizon Channel 453 and on TNT airwave 30.7.
• FRANCE 24’s daily news bulletin is now accessible to New Yorkers from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM on NYC Life (channel number 25)
• FRANCE 24 is also partially available in English on MHz Worldwide via its affiliates in 14 American states representing a total of 28 million subscribers.

About FRANCE 24 (www.france24.com):
FRANCE 24 is the first international news channel that offers a French perspective and sensibility on world events. It broadcasts on a 24/7 basis on three channels, in French, English and Arabic, in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. FRANCE 24 can be accessed by cable, satellite, ADSL and mobile phone. The website www.france24.com is available in 3 languages (English, French and Arabic).